History of Whitesboro, (Oneida County) New York United States of America

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Biographies:

Frances Miriam Whitcher, author, was born in Whitesboro, N.Y., Nov. 1, 1811; daughter of Lewis Berry. She attended the district schools, and began literary production at an early age, becoming widely known as a humorist through her contributions to Neal's Saturday Gazette signed "Widow Bedott," 1840-50. She married, in 1850, the Rev. Benjamin W. Whitcher, rector of St. John's Church, Whitesboro, but he was obliged to resign as his wife's former neighbors accused her of "writing them up" in the "Widow Bedott" papers, and he accepted the rectorship of Grace Church, Elmira, N.Y. Mrs. Whitcher returned to Whitesboro in 1851, where her child was born, and where she died soon after. Her relatives collected her letters, which were published as: The Widow Bedott Papers, with an introduction by Alice B. Neal (2 vols. 1855); Aunt Maguire and Letters from Timberville which originally appeared in Godey's Lady's Book, and Widow Spriggins, Mary Elmer, and Other Sketches, were edited with a memoir by Mrs. M. L. Ward Whitcher, and published in 1867. She died in Whitesborom, N.Y., Jan. 4, 1852.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Samuel Kirkland Lothrop, clergyman, was born in Whitesboro, N.Y., Oct. 13, 1804; son of John Hosmer and Jerusha (Kirkland) Lothrop; grandson of the Rev. Samuel Kirkland, missionary to the Oneida Indians, who married Jerusha Bingham; great-grandson of the Rev. David and Hannah (Perkins) Kirkland, and a descendant of the Rev. John Lothrop, who came from England in 1634 and settled first in Scituate and afterward in Barnstable, Mass. He was virtually adopted by his uncle, the Rev. Dr. John T. Kirkland , who assumed the charge of his education, and he was graduated from Harvard, A.B., 1825, and B.D., 1828. He preached in Washington, D.C., 1828; in Beverly, Mass.; and was pastor of the new Unitarian society at Dover, N.H., 1829-34. He was married, June 3, 1829, to Mary Lyman Buckminster. In June, 1834, he was inducted as pastor of the Brattle Square church, Boston, Mass., as successor to the Rev. Dr. Palfrey, and served until 1876, when he resigned. Mrs. Lothrop died Jan. 20, 1859, and he married secondly, Nov. 22, 1869, Alice Lindsay, daughter of the Rev. Abner and Catherine (Sedgwick) Webb. He was a delegate to the Massachusetts constitutional convention in 1852, a member of the Boston school committee for twenty years, and chairman of the charitable society for the relief of the widows and children of Congregational ministers in Massachusetts and Maine. He was an overseer of Harvard, 1847-54; a lecturer in the Harvard divinity school, 1871-72; was elected a member of the Massachusetts Historical society in 1854; and served as corresponding secretary and as president of the Massachusetts Humane society and as a member of the Society of the Cincinnati and of the most important societies connected with the Unitarian church. He received the degree of D.D. from Harvard in 1852, and that of LL.D. from Hamilton in 1885. He is the author of: Life of Samuel Kirkland, Missionary to the Indians, in Sparks's "American Biography," and The History of the Church in Brattle Square. He died in Boston, Mass., June 12, 1886.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Charles Edward Pearce, representative, was born in Whitesboro, N.Y., May 29, 1842; son of William Greene and Rebecca Ann (Paine) Pearce; grandson of Nathaniel and Anna (D'Auby) Pearce, and of Philip and Phoebe (Stevens) Paine, and a descendant of John Pearce of North Kingstown, R.I., and of Nicholas Stillwell of Manhattan Island, N.Y. He attended Fairfield seminary; was graduated from Union college, N.Y., in 1863, and enlisted in the Federal army immediately upon his graduation, as captain of a company of heavy artillery. He was promoted major in June, 1864, and served in the armies of the James and the Potomac. After the fall of Fort Fisher, he was appointed on the staff of Maj.-Gen. A.H. Terry, and was detailed as provost marshal-general of the eastern district of North Carolina during the occupation of Wilmington, Del. He resigned from the army in 1865; removed to St. Louis, Mo., in 1866; was admitted to the bar in 1867, and established himself in the practice of law and in manufacturing. He was chosen commander of the national guard of the state of Missouri in 1875; organized the first regiment in 1877, and served as its colonel, 1877-78. He was a delegate to the Republican national convention of 1888; chairman of the Sioux Indian commission in 1891, and in 1894 was sent to India and Japan to investigate their industries. He was a Republican representative in the 55th and 56th congresses, 1897-1901. He died in St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 30, 1902.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Charles Andrews, jurist, was born at Whitestown, N.Y., May 27, 1827; son of George and Polly (Walker) Andrews; grandson of Nathaniel Andrews and of Stephen Walker; and a descendant of John and Mary Andrews, who settled in Farmington, Conn., about 1640; and of "Widow" Walker of Rehoboth, Mass., one of the first purchasers and proprietors of the town in 1643. He attended Cazenovia seminary, N.Y.; studied law in Syracuse, N.Y., and was admitted to the bar in 1849. He was district attorney of Onondaga county, 1853-'56: mayor of Syracuse, in 1861, 1862 and 1868, and was a delegate-at-large at the state constitutional convention of 1867. He was an associate judge of the court of appeals of New York, 1870-'81, and 1884-'93, and chief justice of the same, 1881-'84 and 1893-'97, when he was retired. He married, May 17, 1855, Marcia A. Skankland of Syracuse. He received the degree of LL.D. from Hamilton college in 1877, from Columbia college in 1887 and from Yale university in 1898.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor